Super cab

Around 10% of the people are disabled in Bangladesh. A major number of them are physically disabled or amputees from work injuries and accidents. They belong mostly to poor families and hence are forced to beg on the streets. With no earning scope, they are considered a drag for their family and liability of this poor country.

Super cab intends to provide a cab service with disabled drivers. Each cab will accommodate custom modifications considering the physical condition of its driver.

We also propose Super cab as an alternative to rickshaw(a 3 wheel version of bi-cycle with passengers). The rickshaw puller has to physically pull the weight of the passengers. In such extreme weather and bad road condition, this is tremendous physical stress.

So, Super cab will provide a non-fuel based alternative transportation system to rickshaw while ensuring jobs to physically disabled.

Physically disabled beggars- More than 1.5 million people are insolvent with disabilities in Bangladesh. They get a monthly allowance of less than 10$ (700tk). Quoting from this news: "...Despite their abilities, efforts and qualifications, the state and society-at-large continue to pity them and treat them as dependents rather than create enabling environments for them— a fact that is apparent if we take a look at this year’s proposed budget...They are still excluded from the development budgets of the government, with little to no investment in the creation of accessible environments in which they can function and flourish..."

Rickshaw pullers-  Recent study shows that 94% rickshaw pullers of Dhaka suffers from physical complications due to inhuman physical stress of their job. Recent ban on rickshaw due to its uncontrolled increase, slow speed and hence contribution in traffic jam has affected the rickshaw pullers' livelihood as well as created transportation problem for people using them.

Super cab will provide environment friendly battery powered electric cab service as an alternative to rickshaw. Physically disabled people will also be offered driver jobs with modifications inside the vehicle.

Physically disabled beggars are common scene on major city streets in Bangladesh. The government can't provide enough for their rehabilitation. So, the poor disabled are forced to beg on the streets. The alarming fact is that most of them were once the main earning person of their family. Mostly they are disabled by road accidents and major work injuries. When such an earning person becomes disabled, there is a whole family to feed. With no rehabilitation provided and no job opportunity, these families live on the streets. Super cab will manufacture special cabs with simple driving technique yet safe for the disabled.

Number of Rickshaw pullers in major cities is increasing. They are causing more chaotic traffic. Government is banning rickshaws from major streets. But no alternative is being provided. So, rickshaw passengers are suffering along with rickshaw pullers. The extremely hot weather and heavy rain makes non-air-conditioned open rickshaw unsuitable for both passengers and rickshaw pullers. Super cabs will be battery operated electric vehicle with proper air-conditioning. Pedal assist technology will be used to recharge the battery instead of using illegal power line connection. They can be manufactured in Bangladesh with existing low cost technology.

Creating easy driving jobs for Physically disabled men and women as well as providing physical stress devoid vehicle to rickshaw pullers is the target of Super cab.

We seek to manufacture low cost cabs that will serve the following -

1. Our taxis will have simplest driving mechanism so that physically disabled people can drive them. Custom modifications will be added to each taxi to assist the disabled driver to ensure easy driving and safe transportation.
2. These will be electric motorized vehicle that will replace rickshaw. Thus rickshaw pullers won't have to undergo unbearable physical stress while driving their new vehicles.
3. The air conditioning will make ride more comfortable for passengers unlike rickshaw, in the extreme weather of Bangladesh.

Technology and process: 

• The cabs will be small electric motorized vehicle with 3 passenger seats and 1 driver seat. Hub motor will be preferred. The vehicle will be 3 or 4 wheeler depending on the stability of cornering.
• Proper air conditioning will be present inside the vehicle along with space for baggage.
• The main power source of the vehicle will be rechargeable battery. Battery will be recharged using pedal assist generator. The mechanical power is converted into electrical power in this technology. For disabled drivers, pedal can be replaced by hand driven wheel depending on driver's physical condition.
• Internet based app ( like Uber) will be provided for hiring taxi. Since lots of people don't have access to internet and smart phone, taxis can be hired on spot too. For this purpose a manual fare meter will be incorporated with the app that the driver will use for on spot hiring.
• The cabs will be manufactured in Bangladesh with low cost environment friendly materials yet ensuring proper safety. This will create job opportunities for young engineers and garage workers too.

Existing transportation services in Bangladesh ( e.g. Public bus, rickshaw, CNG taxi, Uber, Pathao etc.) don't provide job opportunity to disabled and women. Super cab is designed with less driving complexity using existing technology to provide driving jobs to physically disabled and deprived.

Public buses can't accommodate so many passengers by seats. Passengers ride these buses standing or even dangerously hanging by the door. Other services charge way too much fare beyond normal people's affordability. In addition there are rickshaw that is very slow and hence slows down traffic with disordered driving.

Super cab will provide small 3 seater cab service. The cabs can replace rickshaws in the city. They will provide air conditioned comfortable ride to passengers yet maintaining very low fare like rickshaw.

Super cab intends to serve people with comfortable transportation with low cost. At the same time our target drivers are physically disabled people and rickshaw pullers. The non-fuel electric super cabs will be the first environment friendly vehicles in Bangladesh.

Super cab will eliminate rickshaw problem on the streets with faster vehicles while also creating easier and better jobs for the rickshaw pullers. It will provide driving jobs to physically disabled people too. Existing pedal technology will be used to recharge the electric cab while sparing mother Earth from pollution.

So, the technology already exists. Super cab is simply reinventing them for a better service and innovating a better way to help disabled and deprived people through the service.

Considering the physical strength required in rickshaw pulling and traffic disorder created by them, rickshaws will be completely banned in future. But these rickshaw pullers have no alternative jobs or educational qualification to search another job. Super cab will provide them a better job quality.

"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." This is our motto to manufacture customized cabs for physically disabled people. By our service they will become financially solvent rather being dependents or drags.

Uber and Pathao services in Bangladesh have brought about a change in transportation. People are using these services more often. At the same time a lot of people have got an opportunity to earn. But these services require the driver to own a vehicle. In our case, we're manufacturing low cost environment friendly vehicles and giving jobs to the poor, disabled and deprived.

Since our solution is in concept stage, current number of people we're serving is zero.

Our primary target is disabled beggars and rickshaw pullers in Dhaka city. By providing better driving jobs we'll be helping approximately 500-1,000 families i.e. around 5,000-10,000 people will be influenced. As well as lots of office going people in Dhaka will get a better and cost effective cab service.

In 5 years we intend to spread our solution in underdeveloped and developing countries including Bangladesh and India. We are estimating more than 10 million disabled people, deprived and elderly people, women to be helped by our service and become solvent.

Super cab will create driving job opportunity for all kinds of people including- the physically disabled people, elderly rickshaw pullers, women etc.

At the same time, since the vehicles will be manufactured in Bangladesh, more jobs will be created in the manufacturing industry.

People of all level of income will get access to better and comfortable transportation with low cost. Sufferings of office going men and specially women in public bus will be reduced vastly.

Maintenance of Super cab app will create job opportunities in IT sector. As well as jobs will be created in field management.

So, Super cab has the potential to impact a vast number of people.

Our main barrier is financial. In fact that is sole reason why our service is still in concept stage.

The next barrier is training our target drivers.

Creating a user friendly app and service and gaining people's trust is the next barrier. Proper advertisement is required to show people the humanitarian goal behind this service.

If we can win a significant amount of money from Tiger challenge, we'll be able to start manufacturing cabs. Then with further loan from bank we hope to release 100-200 cabs in Dhaka city.

Super cab intends keep 20% - 30% of the daily income from the drivers for the company. This will help us spread our service. And we'll always be looking for donations and funding as our primary motto is to help disabled and deprived people to be self-dependent.

For now, only two.